Studies Show Driving Is Increasingly Stressful
June 21, 2008
(HealthNewsDigest.com)-Sixty percent of motorists say that
driving can be a stressful experience, nine out of 10 of them attributing it to
heavy traffic and 80 percent saying rude drivers are also a primary cause,
according to a recently completed survey of nearly 1,000 drivers conducted by
Harris Interactive® and commissioned by Parrot, a leading manufacturer of
Bluetooth® hands-free car kits.
Yet, despite rising fuel prices, tension-filled traffic does not seem to be
going away anytime soon. According to a report from the Texas Transportation
Institute released in 2007, congestion causes the average traveler to spend
nearly 38 extra hours behind the wheel.
Most people assume stress is limited to their workplace and home but the car can
also be a cause of regular frustration, according to Paul Wilson, world-renowned
author and guru of calm. He claims that even a relatively event-free journey can
add further tension in a person.
According to the survey, other stress-inducing factors include road and weather
conditions and talking on the phone while driving.
So what can drivers do to stay relaxed while behind the wheel?
Wilson provides tips for drivers to make their time in the car as stress-free as
possible. “Frustration is often caused by people concentrating on elements
that they have no control over, like other drivers, traffic lights and the flow
of cars and trucks,” said Wilson. “In order to see stress levels fall,
drivers need to concentrate on things they can control.”
One way to feel in more control is to put down handheld cell phones. “Mobile
phones and cars can be a dicey combination. But the diciest part is keying in
numbers or text and fiddling with your controls,” Wilson explained. “Of
course, if you use voice dialing or hands-free, or if you pull over to devote
all your attention to your caller everyone is better off-you, your caller and
other drivers.”
Bluetooth® technology that offers hands-free communication allows drivers to
keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, helping eliminate the stress
of trying to handle a phone while driving and still enjoy the benefits of
staying connected in the car. Options range in flavors from old-fashioned corded
headsets to high-end installed car kits with features including voice
recognition for easy dialing, caller ID and image display, among others. All the
options have benefits depending on a driver’s needs.
Parrot offers several solutions for drivers looking to make calls comfortably
from the car. The Parrot MINIKIT, a portable speaker that clips onto the visor,
is designed to make voice-activated calling in the car a reality. The
speakerphone uses voice recognition, eliminating the need to handle the phone
while behind the wheel.
For drivers who prefer something more like the factory-installed systems found
in some new cars, Parrot offers its 3200 LS-Color unit, a Bluetooth® car kit
that integrates into the vehicle’s sound system and automatically mutes the
stereo when a call is in progress. It also features a dash-mounted color screen
that can display information, including caller and photo ID.
How best to use a cell phone while in the car is a growing concern both as a
matter of comfort and as a legal issue. Five states (NY, NJ, CT, CA and WA),
plus the District of Columbia and numerous cities such as Chicago, have banned
the use of a handheld cell phone while driving. And over a dozen other states
have either enacted partial bans or are currently considering legislation.
To learn more, visit the Web site at www.parrotsafedriving.com.
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